Coffin-lowering device



Q0 tus for facilitatin the placing b L p Patented Nov. 4-, 1930 UNETED STA FATE? Fi lQ HAROLD J. CORDONNIER AND COR-BAN H. ZILER, OF OARTI-IAGE, MISSOURI COFFIN-LO'WERING DEVICE Application filed May 13,

This invention relates to coffin lowering devices and has for one of its objects to provide an apparatus of this character which will be simple in construction, comp at-ivoly inexpensive to manufacture and more efficient in use than those which have been heretofore proposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in a coffin lowering apparaof the coffin in position for lowering into a grave.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing torn-ring a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate like parts in all the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coflin lowering device embodying the improvements constitutin the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the shown in Fig. 2.

There is at present in comparatively wide use one or more forms of apparatus for lowering coilins into graves which apparatus in general comprises a substantially rectangular frame work adapted to be positioned about the mouth of the rave, said frame work including rotatable side rods or bars, the rotation of which may be controlled through suitable mechanism enclosed in housings at the ends of the said bars. Canvas or other suitable straps have their ends secured to these side bars and are wound thereon through the rotation of the bars in one direction so as to form transversely extending supports upon which the cotlin is placed, and by means of which it may be lowered into the grave through the reverse rotation of the side members of the frame.

It frequently happens, however, that the cofiins are quite heavy and it is diflicult forparts 1929. Serial NO. 362,690.

the pall-bearers or grave the collie in position the supporting straps. The present invention provides means whereby one end of the coffin. may be placed in position over one end of the frame and supported in such a manner that the cohin may be pushed or slid longitudinally of the grave into position above the said straps. Upon release of the control mechanism of the rotatable side bars, the members coi'istituting the present invention, which are preferablv carried by the said bars, move downwardly and out of the way of the descending coflin, permitting the lat ter to be lowered on the flexible straps in the usual manner.

Referring more particularly to 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated one well known form of apparatus for lowering a coffin which comprises a frame work com posed of the end rods or bars 5 and the side rods or bars 6 which are rotatable, under the controlof suitable mechanism forming no part of the present invention, but which is enclosed in suitable housings such as 7 arranged at the corners of the frame. A control handle 8 is provided for governing the action of the control mechanism within the housing 7, wherebv the side rods 6 may be permitted to rotate or stopped at will, in the well known manner. Canvas or other suitable flexible straps 9 span the space between the side bars 6 and constitute supports foi the cothn during the lowering operation.

In order that coffins may be more readily brought to position upon the straps 9, the present invention provides transversely extending supporting elements 10 which are slown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. As will be attendants to place upon H 11 is secured 1e rotatable side rods or bars 6, as for example, by means of set screws 12. Straddling this collar 11 is the bifurcated end 13 of a supporting member l which terminates in the opposite direction in a stud or pin 15 upon which is journalled a roller 16. A headed screw 17 may be provided for retaining the roller in place, as will be clear from the drawings,

r from these figures, a collar 1 V l Thebifurcated end 13 of the member 1 1- is ournalled upon the rotatable side member 6 "for rotation relative thereto and 1n order 1 e to prevent such rotation in one direction, whereby the su oortin members ma be r L C maintained in the horizontal positions shown 111 Fm. 1 suitable iorm of ratchet or one z, 7 1 V way clutch mechanism may be provided. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, this clutch mechanism comprises a roller 18 housed within the biiurcated ends 13 or" the member 14 and ada ted to engage with the outer surface of the collar 11 and with the rear face 19 of the biiurcation of the member 1%, as will be clear from Fig. 2. The said roller 18 is normally pressed upwardly into wedging engagement with these two surfaces by means of a spring 20 whereby relative rotation between the men1- bers 6 and 1d in one direction may be prevented as will be readily understood.

In order that the clutch roller 18 may be disen aged when it is desired to properly position the supporting elements 10, there is provided a releasing pin :21 which extends through and is slidably mounted in an aperture 22 formed in the upper wall of the member 14. The inner end of the pin :21 is adapted to engage the clutch roller 18 so that by depressing the said pin 21, the said roller may be moved out of wedging engagement with the surface of the collar 11, and the surface 19 whereupon the member 14 may be free to swing in either direction. The clutch may be held in this released position by rotation of the release pin 21, when in depressed condition such rotation serving to bring one end of a transverse pin 2-3 under the shoulder 2 L as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the return of the roller 18 and pin 21 by the spring 20 is prevented.

is many or" these supporting devices may be employed as are necessary or desired, four grave.

having been shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. it will be understood that with the supporting elements 10 arranged as shown in said Figure 1, one end of a coffin may be introduced endwise over the frame of the lowering deviceto position where such end will rest upon the first pair oi rollers 16, whereupon the said coflin may be rolled or slid longitudinally to final position over the mouth of the Upon release 01" the control mechanism contained in the housings 7, the side bars 6wili be slowly rotated in opposite directions and will carry with them the supporting members 10 thereby transferring the weight of the coflm to the flexible straps 9.

V i v hen the members 10 reach a vertical pendant position the weight thereof will serve to maintain them in that position since the rotation of the side bars 6 is in such direction. as to release the clutches, and therefore the members 10 will not be brought around to such a position that they could contact closure except as maybe required by the claims.

lVhat is claimed is 1. The combination with a coihn lowering device comprising rotatable lowering elements and flexible members carried thereby for supporting the coiiin, of means also carried by said rotatable elements for initially supporting the coiiin above said flexible membars.

2. The combination with a cofiin lowering device comprising rotatable lowering elements and flexible members carried thereby for supporting the coliin, of means also carried by said rotatable elements for initially receiving the weight of the coilin and permitting it to he slid into position above said flexible members. V

3. In a cofiin lowering apparatus, the combination of spaced rotatable lowering elements{ flexible cofiin supporting members carried thereby; and transversely extending rollers also carried by said rotatable elements for initially receiving said cofiin and permit ting it to be rolled into position above said flexible members.

4%. In a coiiin lowering apparatus, the combination of spaced rotatable lowering elements; flexible coifln supporting members carried thereby; transversely extending rollers also carried by said rotatable elements for initially receiving said coflin and permitting it to be rolled into position above said flexible members; and one-way clutch connections between said rotatable elements and *llO said rollers. V

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

HAROLD J. CORDONNIER. COR-BAN H. .ZILER. 

